Presentation flag package



Dec. 26,1950 E. T. MCBRIDE 2,535,149

PRESENTATION FLAG PACKAGE- Filed May 28, 1947 I 217% p mw Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES p g ENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to means for protecting flags, and more especially to means for protecting presentation flags.

As is well-known, military and certain other persons are entitled to military honors upon their death. Part of the ceremony on such occasions involves the presentation of an American flag, suitably folded, to the next of kin of the deceased. I have noted that despite the best of intentions presentation flags invariably all too quickly become soiled, wrinkled, lose their distinctive presentation form, and almost invariably soon find their way to some out-of-the-way place, such as an attic trunk, there to deteriorate rather rapidly.

It has occurred to me that such flags are particularly worthy of respect and admiration, because besides carrying the meanin which every U. S. flag inherently possesses, the presentation flags occupy a unique position. For one thing,

they embody in tangible form the thanks of the nation or of a community for services rendered by the deceased. Moreover, such flags carry a special meaning to the next of kin who associate the flag with the memory of the deceased.

Accordingly, I set out to provide means for preserving presentation flags so that they would not become soiled quickly 'or otherwise deteriorate and be consigned to a place like an attic trunk. Furthermore, I sought means which would enable one to view the flag, in its presented form. Another objective was to find means whereby the flag could be moved about or turned around in any direction without its losing the form in which it was presented.

These goals and others were reached by me in accordance with the present invention, which I will endeavor to explain fully in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

Referrin to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my flag protector showing the hingeably-mounted lid of the packaging device open;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and shows a slidably-mounted lid;

Figs. 3 and 4 show modified forms of packaging devices, the former showing an end section of one having angular corners and the latter showing an end section of one having rounded corners.

In the various drawings like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In Fig. 1, I is a container of a size and form suitable to receive a folded presentation flag H.

The broken line l'lis shown in order to expose a stiffening member l3 inserted between the 'folds of flag l I. The container shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a suitable lid E l attached to the body of the container l0 by means of hinges l5.

In order to illustrate that the presentation flag has substantial thickness (approximately 2 inches) I have shown, in Fig. 2'. a side viewalong the long side it of container iii. In addition, Fig. 2 shows another method of attaching a lid to the container, in this connection lid M being slidably-mounted at l8.

As previously stated, Fig. 3 shows a form of the container l0 wherein the corners I! are not pointed but are flattened so as to give an angular face I? at each corner. Similarly, rounded corners II" are shown in Fig. 4.

The folded flag l I as presented has the dimensions of 16 inches on two sides with a base of 22 inches and a thickness of 2 inches. These figures represent the size of a folded flag which in unfolded condition measures 9 feet by 5 feet. My invention is applicable to larger and smaller flags and therefore I do not wish it limited to a flag of the regulation 9 foot by 5 foot size.

Inasmuch as the container H3 is designed to receive and accommodate a folded presentation flag, and as just stated such flags may vary in dimensions, my invention is not limited to any particular size of container. The important thingwith regard to size of the container is that it should be large enough to receive the folded flag and should be triangular in general outline. Though some leeway is permissible in the size of the container it is not desired to have an unduly large one as it is not necessary and too large a container might even be undesirable. Practical, common-sense considerations will indicate to anyone practicingmy invention what sizes are suitable.

The container FE! may :be partially or entirely transparent. If the container is only partially transparent, the lid at least should be made transparent. While I do not wish to restrict myself to any particular materials of construction, I prefer to use plastic and cellulosic materials. Examples of such materials are polystyrene, cellulose acetate, inethacrylate resins, vinyl chlo ride -vinyl acetate co-polymers, phenol-formaldehyde molding or laminating materials and melamine-formaldehyde molding or laminating materials.

If desired, suitable inscriptions on the containor may be made, for example, with inserts, paint, or printing inks.

The member 13 may be of any suitable material. It should be of suitable size to fit between the folds of the flag M. It should not be too thick so as to occupy an inordinate amount of space. A thickness of to 1 inch is satisfactory, even smaller thicknesses being desirable.

A preferred stifiening member 13 is a plaque having suitable inscriptions referring to the deceased. Such a plaque may be made of the same materials of which the container is made.

It is understood that changes in details of construetion and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and all such modifications coming Within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be secured herein.

I claim:

1. The combination of a packaging container having a folded presentation flag disposed therein in the triangular form in which such flags are presented to the recipients said container having a transparent lid and being of a size and isosceles form suitabie to receive said flag, said folded flag containing entirely between its folds a substantially rigid triangular stifiening member substantially the size of said triangularly ioided flag.

2. The combination of a packaging container having a folded presentation flag disposed therein in the triangular form in which such flags are presented to the recipients said container having a transparent lid and being of a size and isosceles form suitable to receive said flag, said folded flag containing entirely between its folds a suitably inscribed substantially rigid memorial plaque substantially the size of said triangularly folded flag.

EDWARD T. MCBRIDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 237,329 Siddall Feb. 1, 1831 1,668,572 Parmele May 8, 1928 1,746,900 Lee Feb. 4, 1930 1,912,329 Wasseil May 30, 1933 1,957,204 Genz July 17, 1934 2,002,211 Torney May 21, 1935 2,125,856 De Witt Aug. 2, 1938 2,316,38 Abramson Apr. 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 213,374 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1924 

